Chinese Chat App Exposes Kids to Prostitutes

Today in international tech news: Surveys show that a Chinese messaging app is exposing children to prostitutes. Also: Venezuela asks for Twitter's help in the nation's crusade against black-market dollar exchange; Google China reportedly tried to purchase the "Chinese Yelp" back in 2007; Ericsson strikes a massive deal with China Mobile; Alibaba gives away smartphones to bolster m-commerce; and Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's handset division is OK'd by shareholders.

By David Vranicar
11/20/13 9:24 AM PT

China's massively popular WeChat messaging app has exposed school students to prostitutes through its "People Nearby" feature, which is sometimes used by prostitutes as a form of, shall we say, mobile advertising.

A survey among students, conducted in a handful of major Chinese cities, found that the kids had indeed come across prostitutes' accounts when firing up the People Nearby function, according to state television channel CCTV.

CCTV journalists said they reported six of the scandalous accounts to Tencent, the maker of WeChat, but that the accounts remained active when the program ran.

Venezuela Asks Twitter to Help Curb Black Market for Dollars

Having already asked Internet service providers to block websites publishing the black market exchange rate for dollars, Venezuela on Tuesday asked Twitter to block accounts that are linked to such websites.

Following the ISP block, some Twitter accounts have been shooting out links to alternative, thus-far-unblocked sites. The nation's telecommunications agency told Twitter that the company was enabling "a situation that is seriously damaging to the Venezuelan economy." Twitter had no immediate comment.

The black market rate for dollars is more than nine times higher than the official rate.

Alibaba Giving Away Smartphones

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has launched an investment program that includes giving away smartphones.

In an effort to shore up the mobile market, e-tailers are being courted with data analysis tools; guides on how to set up online stores for mobile devices; and, yes, a free smartphone for every subscriber running Alibaba's mobile operating system.

So-called "m-commerce" is booming in China. For example, during the nation's annual online shopping orgy, held on November 11, about 21 percent of transactions were completed on mobile devices; in 2012, that number was just 5 percent.